Verizon sees record first-day sales w/ iPhone

Verizon is no longer taking pre-orders for its iPhone 4 after blowing through the number of phones it allotted for its presale.

The cell phone carrier said that in just two hours Thursday morning, between 3 a.m. and 5 a.m., more customers had ordered the phone than in the full day of any previous phone launch.

The company didn't specify how many iPhones had been ordered. It halted orders at 8:10 p.m. Thursday, and said it will resume taking orders at 3 a.m. on Wednesday.

Those who didn't get one this week will get another chance next week. According to Verizon's website, you can order an iPhone online starting at 6:01 a.m. PST on Wednesday. Stores will begin selling the smart phones at 7 a.m. PST.

AT&T Inc. has so far been the exclusive carrier of Apple Inc.'s popular phone in the U.S. It activated 15.2 million of them last year. Analyst estimates for Verizon iPhone sales this year vary widely, from 5 million to 13 million. Analysts expect the sales to Verizon subscribers will be strong, but the big question is how many iPhone buyers will be jumping ship from other carriers.